A Comprehensive Review of Knowledge Mapping Techniques

Knowledge mapping is one of the most popular techniques used to identify knowledge in organizations. Using knowledge mapping techniques; a large and complex set of knowledge resources can be acquired and navigated more easily. Knowledge mapping has attracted the senior managers' attention as an assessment tool in recent years and is expected to measure deep conceptual understanding and allow experts in organizations to characterize relationships between concepts within a domain visually. Here the very critical issue is how to identify and choose an appropriate knowledge mapping technique. This paper aims to explore the different types of knowledge mapping techniques and give a general idea of their target contexts to have the way for choosing the appropriate map. It attempts to illustrate which techniques are appropriate, why and where they can be applied, and how these mapping techniques can be managed. The paper is based on the comprehensive review of papers on knowledge mapping techniques. In addition, this paper attempts to further clarify the differences among these knowledge mapping techniques and the main purpose for using each. Eventually, it is recommended that experts must understand the purpose for which the map is being developed before proceeding to activities related to any knowledge management dimensions; in order to the appropriate knowledge mapping technique .